saratoga vs old key-key west what is the best deal?

[rapisano]

We wanted to find out if the okw is old and not updated? We have not been to the saratoga springs yet it is our home resort. We are trying to do the most with our points and we heard that okw is larger and less points. We just returned from hhi and just loved it that was a older place as well and we were so impressed. Please advise!

 

[stacy6552]

Yes OKW is "cheaper." And the rooms are laid out like those at HHI. If you're looking for a deal, then the bottom line is OKW.

We have staid at both and I think the other plus for OKW is is seems quieter and more removed from everything than OKW.

That said, having stayed at alot of resports on property, SSR is our favorite, all things being equal. We only do not stay there when there is a specific perk of another resort, like SAB at BCV during a non park summer stay....

 

[JimMIA]

The two resorts have many similarities -- both are "condo-style" resorts with parking at your door. Both are more spread-out than the resorts attached to hotels.

Points - SSR point costs are roughly 25% more than OKW, although that will vary depending on type of unit and season.

Size - All of the OKW units are larger than SSR, some more than others. From one bedroom up, the OKW units are a LOT bigger than the SSR units -- the 1 BR and 2 BRs are about 30% bigger, the GV is about 12% bigger. The OKW units also feature a full laundry room with full-sized washer and dryer. SSR models have smaller capacity stacked washers & dryers.

Studio - The OKW studio is 390 sq ft, and has two queen-sized regular beds. The SSR studio is 355 sq ft and has a queen and a queen-sized sofa bed. The choice there may depend on whether you want two beds or a sofa.

1 BR - OKW = 942 sq ft; SSR = 714 sq ft.

2 BR - OKW = 1395 sq ft; SSR = 1075. In addition to the laundry difference, the OKW unit will have two queens in the second bedroom.

3 BR - OKW = 2375 sq ft; SSR = 2113 sq ft.

Both resorts are an easy drive to any theme park, and the bus systems at both are good. OKW may have a slight bus advantage. There have been occasional complaints about non-guests parking at DTD and using SSR buses.

SSR has the advantage of being an easy walk or quick boat trip from DTD. From OKW, the boat trip is somewhat longer and stops at SSR first.

 

[bobbiwoz]

A negative for me is the fact that only 3 (maybe 4) OKW buildings have elevators. I can't easily walk up to the 2 -3 floor. I've stayed twice and have gotten an elevator building or the first floor. The 1 bedroom is wonderful, really more like an apartment than (just) resort accomodations.

Bobbi

 

[FreeTime]

2 BR - OKW = 1395 sq ft; SSR = 1075. In addition to the laundry difference, the OKW unit will have two queens in the second bedroom.

This is only if you get a dedicated 2 BR. I have had non dedicated at both resorts where you get a studio as the second room. Thus, you would have the pull-out and a queen.

Althought OKW was the original (oldest) DVC resort. It has been kept up and we have only experienced minor maintanence issues. No less than at any other DVC. We prefer OKW to SSR. If you think you will spend a lot of time at DTD, I think that SSR would be the best.

 

[dianeschlicht]

This is only if you get a dedicated 2 BR. I have had non dedicated at both resorts where you get a studio as the second room. Thus, you would have the pull-out and a queen.
.

FALSE INFORMATION!!!! ALL studios at OKW are lock offs, and ALL studios and 2nd bedrooms at OKW have 2 Queen sizded real beds....the only sleep sofas at OKW are in the living rooms of the 1,2 and 3 bedroom villas.

 

[kdzgon]

We stayed at an SSR studio recently and were surprised at just how small it was. Although the room may measure 355 sf, the "main" area (bed, couch and table area) seems to be close in size to that of a value resort room (value rm = 260 sf). The "extra" room comes in the entranceway, bathroom/dressing area (bathroom was not large, but it was OK, & obviously larger than a value resort w/ dressing area included), and "kitchenette" area. I wouldn't want to be 4 adults (or a family w/ 2 teenagers) in that room at Disney's price, for sure! We won't rush back to stay in an SSR studio any time soon, mainly based on space.

I have never been in an OKW studio, so I cannot compare the two. We did stay at CR last Sept (also 390 sf) and the difference in room (size) comfort was quite significant. We also stayed in an OKW 1 BR, and it is quite spacious, although I can see where there can be some reduction in total SF without terribly affecting room comfort. I thought the layout was a bit awkward, and the bathroom was really quite large. One could easily deal with a smaller bathroom without problem, and stackable washer/dryers take much less room than the laundry area at OKW (and could eliminate that additional hallway as well). I'm hoping the difference between SSR and OKW in the larger size rooms will be less noticeable than the studios. We'll be in a 2 BR at SSR for NYE, in part to be closer to DTD for the holiday.

OKW was definitely older and is a little "run down" only in comparison to the "new" rooms at SSR (we were in Carousel). We noticed black stains and minor cracking in some of the grout, etc at OKW, but certainly no maintenance issues that negatively impacted our stay.

I'm a semi-point miser (spoiled with 1 BR, but likes to do so "cheaply" - next stay is a 1 BR BW std view), so I really like the lower point chart for OKW. It is a beautiful resort as well. It also has an "older" feel in the sense of being more "settled in" to the area with a more established landscape, etc.

 

[sue]

The two resorts have many similarities -- both are "condo-style" resorts with parking at your door. Both are more spread-out than the resorts attached to hotels.

Points - SSR point costs are roughly 25% more than OKW, although that will vary depending on type of unit and season.

Size - All of the OKW units are larger than SSR, some more than others. From one bedroom up, the OKW units are a LOT bigger than the SSR units -- the 1 BR and 2 BRs are about 30% bigger, the GV is about 12% bigger. The OKW units also feature a full laundry room with full-sized washer and dryer. SSR models have smaller capacity stacked washers & dryers.

Studio - The OKW studio is 390 sq ft, and has two queen-sized regular beds. The SSR studio is 355 sq ft and has a queen and a queen-sized sofa bed. The choice there may depend on whether you want two beds or a sofa.

1 BR - OKW = 942 sq ft; SSR = 714 sq ft.

2 BR - OKW = 1395 sq ft; SSR = 1075. In addition to the laundry difference, the OKW unit will have two queens in the second bedroom.

3 BR - OKW = 2375 sq ft; SSR = 2113 sq ft.

Both resorts are an easy drive to any theme park, and the bus systems at both are good. OKW may have a slight bus advantage. There have been occasional complaints about non-guests parking at DTD and using SSR buses.

SSR has the advantage of being an easy walk or quick boat trip from DTD. From OKW, the boat trip is somewhat longer and stops at SSR first.

There are 2 queen beds in the 2 BR villa's at SSR

 

[drakethib]

Space wise you can't go wrong with OKW

 

[JimMIA]

There are 2 queen beds in the 2 BR villa's at SSR

I assume that is only in dedicated two-bedrooms. The DVC website says either 2 queens or a queen and sofa bed. If it's a lockoff, the studio would have a queen and sofa bed.

 

[JimMIA]

We stayed at an SSR studio recently and were surprised at just how small it was. Although the room may measure 355 sf, the "main" area (bed, couch and table area) seems to be close in size to that of a value resort room (value rm = 260 sf).

We have not stayed in a studio at SSR yet, but we recently spent five nights in a BCV studio, which is one sq ft larger than SSR. We actually found we had more room in that studio than we have in an OKW studio, because of the sofa bed. We thought the queen/sofa bed combo was more comfortable during the day, and quite spacious.

But there is no comparison in sleeping on the sofa bed (and yes, it was one of the new ones) and sleeping on a real bed. It was good for what it was, but nothing like a real bed.

We don't spend that much time in our room (especially if we're in a studio), so we would choose 2 queens over the queen/sofa combo if we had a choice.

 

[drakethib]

For some strange reasons, the Boardwalk Studio for viewing at the boardwalk looks so much bigger then any other studio's...

or am I looney?

 

[Slakk]

We wanted to find out if the okw is old and not updated? We have not been to the saratoga springs yet it is our home resort. We are trying to do the most with our points and we heard that okw is larger and less points. We just returned from hhi and just loved it that was a older place as well and we were so impressed. Please advise!

We have not stayed at OKW yet but have been to view their rooms. I astually prefer the SSR studio because the couch folded up makes the room bigger during the day.

The 1 BR and 2BRs at OKW are awesome - I prefer the SSR GVs. Both resorts are very nice.

 

[ohiominnie]

Our home resort is VWL. We have stayed at VWL, BCV, OKW, and SSR.

We like them all for various reasons, but our two favorites are OKW and VWL (not necessarily in that order)

When we go for winter trips, we love VWL--the wood and darker look give us a really warm, wintery feel. For spring trips we love OKW because it literally launches our psyche into summer-mode.

We adore the size of the OKW villas (have stayed in 1 and 2 BR villas) so that is a plus. In addition, I love that they have full sized washers and dryers!

I did notice some disrepair in the OKW Villa when we were there last month. Some cracking grout in the bathroom. A soffit on the verandah that was literally rotting out. It's definitely not brand new. But I also saw construction fence around several buildings with heavy equipment, so it looks like they are rehabbing the buildings systematically.

And point wise, you cannot beat OKW.

 

[FreeTime]

FALSE INFORMATION!!!! ALL studios at OKW are lock offs, and ALL studios and 2nd bedrooms at OKW have 2 Queen sizded real beds....the only sleep sofas at OKW are in the living rooms of the 1,2 and 3 bedroom villas.

Absolutley correct. I don't know what I was thinking. Must have had something else on my mind. Sorry!

 

[CarolA]

I love OKW. That said if I am doing a studio by myself I perfer SSR, I like the couch. Now for a family vacation IMHO you cannot beat the SPACE in the one and two bedroom. We took two adults and four teens to OKW last summer. They were not crowded at ALL! Lots of rooms for the kids to spread out and watch videos etc.....

 

[kda]

Comes down to personal preference. SSR studio was exceptionally comfortable for 2 of us and we loved having a sofa to sit on. Decor seems more upscale than OKW and we enjoyed being so close to DTD.

OKW is our last choice if staying in a studio, just because it doesn't have a sofa. That said, we love everything else about OKW and the 1 and 2 BR villas, and spend as much time there as our home at VWL. The big balconies, big villas, and casual comfort is so relaxing.

 

[kdzgon]

I can definitely see SSR studios as more comfortable for a couple. For us, I see at least 2-3 grandchildren with us at a time for the foreseeable future, so SSR studios are unlikely for anything other than a short stay if necessary. Of course, DH has already fallen in love with the 1 BR and wants to know about moving up to a 2 BR, so if he has his way it will be a moot point anyway!

Thankfully, we usually travel in the slowest seasons (this Dec trip is quite the exception!).

 

[tadamom]

We stayed at SSR last month and at OKW during our trip in '04. At SSR, we had the Grand Villa and when we stayed at OKW, we had a 2 br. We loved SSR more and hope to stay there when we go again. It may be b/c it's newer but I thought the overall appearance was better & nicer. I also loved the close proximity to Downtown Disney. About a 10 minute walk from our room at the Springs.

My inlaws have super bad knees and having to climb the stairs at OKW wore them out in the evenings. The elevators were a delight and we could put our kids in the strollers and roll them right on and not have to worry about lugging them up/down stairs.

Again, just my opinion but SSR wins my vote!

 

[kdzgon]

Yes, I forgot to mention - we were on the first floor at both SSR and OKW. Had we been on an upper floor with no elevator, our experience would not have been as nice. No elevator is definitely an issue to consider.

We'll be at SSR in Dec, but in a 2 BR. I'm sure it will be nice, and roomy enough for 4 people. We've stayed in 3 resorts so far, and I would not be able to choose a clear favorite - each has its benefits, for sure.